Implement for sealing eailroad-cars



P. w. A. KRAUS-E. v IMPLEMENT FOR SEALING RAILROAD CARS.

No.18,400. 1 Patented 0ot.13,-185'7.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F. W. A. KRAUSE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPLEMENT FOR SEALING RAILROAD-CARS, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,400, dated October 13, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDK. W. KRAUSE, of the city and county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Implements for Sealing Railroad-Cars, Letter- Bags, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact. description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

By my improvement I furnish a portable hand implement for impressing with great facility, a suitable device upon metallic blanks and compressing the same upon cord wire passed through said blanks in such a manner that the removal of the wire can not be effected without disfigurement of the seal, thus furnishing a ready mode of sealing the doors of railroad cars, letter bags, etc.

The implement being provided with a cut ter or knife for removing the wire, dispenses with the necessity of using a separate one, when the removal of the seal is required.

It consists of a pair of metallic handles which I designate as an upper and lower one; the upper one A, having its end so formed that it presents a fiat face (6) and a section of a circle (a) eccentric to the center of the pin (6) viz the circle is struck from a point a on. the periphery of the pin circle. The object of the flat surface (7)) is to allow the upper die to rise in a manner hereinafter explained.

The lower handle B is provided with two uprights (0 c) rising at right angles thereto, these uprights are connected by a cross piece (cl) which serves as a guide and retainer of the upper die and the end of a spring.

(6) is a bolt passing through the uprights and also through the end of the handle A, thus connecting them. Through the cross piece (cl) a cylindrical hole is formed for receiving the upper die (f) so fitted therein as readily to be moved. Immediately below this opening is a recess or seat for the lower die which is secured in the lower handle by a set screw. Both the upper and lower dies are provided with holes (0 0) for the passage of the wire cord and prevention against cutting.

(h) is a flat spring attached to the lower handle, its outer end enters a hole in the side of the cylinder forming the upper die the spring is guided by a slot or opening in the cross plece (cl).

The dies may have any suitable device engraved upon their sockets or cups.

K is a stud or rest secured on the upper handle, it is so formed at its lower end that in part it forms a cutter or knife which is protected from being dulled by a small projection on said edge, which serves as a rest.

This implement is best and most economically constructed of cast iron, the parts readily admit of being molded.

Suitable blanks or plombs having been made by casting a slot therein, and twisted wire cord being provided, the implement is opened by raising the handle A, thus giving space for the rising of the cylinder and die by means of the flat spring (it) said spring also keeping the handle up.

The cord wire having been cut into suitable lengths is passed through the staples or other fixture 011 the door of a car, then has its ends passed through the holes in the blank or plomb, then lay the metal plomb or blank in the socket of the lower die, observing that the cord wire lies in the holes 0 0 thereof, for preservation thereof when the upper die is brought down. The upper handle is then to be brought down slowly but firmly thus causing the eccentric on its end to press downward the upper die with sufficent force to impress the device of the seal fully on the faces of the blank and at the same time compress the metal into closed contact with the twist of the wire cord, so that it cannot be removed or withdrawn from the metal without disfigurement of the seal or impression; on the opening of the jaws the seal is released.

By the employment of the implement I have made, a more perfect impression is made than can be done by the method now employed viz, a hammer and rest designed for effecting the same purpose.

To remove the seal or open a railroad car, the wire is brought under the cutter attached to the upper handle, and by pressure applied by the hand of the operator thereon, the wire is cut and the seal detached.

It will be also noticed that this cutter serves as a stop or rest in the descent of the upper die and cylinder.

Having described my improvement in sealing railroad cars, etc., what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters substantially in the manner and for the Patent, is-

The employment of the dies (f and 9) when provided with holes (0 0) therein for the protection of the Wire cord, and When said dies form a portion of the press for the purpose of impressing devices upon and compressing the metal of the seal upon Wire 

